Railway car radus rod



Aug. 10, 1954 A. A. GASSNER ET AL 2,685,845

' RAILWAY CAR RADIUS ROD Filed Feb. 18, 1947 '6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TO S A/fredd answ r Gfgorg'e .Efarsons TOP/V5 V Aug. 10, 1954 A. A. GAS'SNER ETAL 2,685,845

' RAILWAY CAR RADIUS ROD Filed Feb. 18, 1947 s Sheets-Shet 2 TATE.-

' INVENTORS fllfreo qgusner Aug. 10, 1954 A.'A. GASSNER ETAL 2,685,845

RAILWAY CAR RADIUS ROD Filed Feb. 18. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet s Aug. 10, 1954 A. A. GASSNER ET AL 2,685,845

RAILWAY CAR RADIUS ROD Filed Feb. 18; 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1X! 'EXTORS flfc ea A Gzssner 71 Gee-rare 5. Parsons Aug. 10, 1954 A. A. GASSNER ET AL 2,635,845

RAILWAY CAR RADIUS ROD Filed Feb. 18, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 TEL .lEI.

! L l I E IIIII IN VEN TORS A/freg /i. Gass wer George .Bfizmom ,4 TO/P/VEV Patented Aug. 10, 1954 STATES Arcs? gOEFFiCE RAILWAY CAR RADIUS BOD Alfred .A. GassnengNew York, and George Parsons, Roosevelt, ;N. Y., assignors to AOF Indus-.- tries, Incorporated, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 18, 1947, Serial No. 729,236

Q a mS- 1 This invention relates to railroad rolling stock and more particularly to mechanism connecting the=axle andthe framingof a car.

In one type of railroad train each car is slipportedat the rear end upon two track wheels and connected at the frontend with the preceding-car by means of a draft coupling. In addition to the draft coupling, the adjacent upper end portions of adjacent cars are sometimes provided with weight sustaining means consisting of sideconnections arranged to permit limited relative movement of the-cars. v

With thi trailer type of car the two track wheels are journalled on atransversely extending axle structure and the connections between the axle structure and framing must include connection means that will permit limited ireedom of movement of the axle and framing relative to each other.

An object of this invention is to provide a car, of the typereferred to, withimproved means controlling relative movement of the axle and the framing in both longitudinal and vertical directions.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a car,-of the :type referred to, with improved connecting mechanism for resisting upward movement-of the axle when thewheels are braked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a car, of the type referred to, with mechhanism whereby torsional shear of rubber insulates the car body and track rails from torque reactions throughthe axle.

' Still anotherobject of the invention-is to'provide acar, of the character referred to, with improvedmechanismbetween the axle andframing for restricting relative vertical, longitudinal and transversemovement of the framing and the axle.

These and-other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure -1 is a side-elevation of several-cars of a railway train of the type referredto.

"-Figure 2isaplan-view of therear end of a car incorporating-the invention.

Figure 3 is anelevational view of the rear end of a car.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a rear end of a car.

Figure-5 is a side elevation-of the'front end of acar.

Figuret is a view-of a-torque-reaction and-radius rod device taken on lineE-tof Figure 2.

' Figure 7 is a sectional view taken-online '1f7 ofFigure G.

Figure Bis-a fragmentary view of one end of the torque reaction and radius roddevice.

Figure 9 is another iragmen-taryyiew of an edge portionofthe device in Figure- 6.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through a wheel andiitsaxle.

Figure 11 is a view looking at the bottom of one of .the-anti-sway devices.

Figure '12 is a view looking at the bottom of another anti-sway device.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spring rod structure of the devices shown in Figure 1:1.

The invention is shown associated with railway cars ID, of the trailer type, having a rearwardly locatedaxle structure H on which track wheels I2 are rotatably mounted. Auxiliary supporting means for the front end of the cars consists of two jack wheel devices located one adjacent each side of the car. Each auxiliary supporting device comprises aleg 43 carrying a track wheel 14 and fixed to shaft 1 5 mounted to rotate in housing l6 attached to the car framing ll. Suitablegearing in the housing is manually operable by crank 18 for lowering or raising the leg to engage or disengage the wheel with the track :rail 19. The auxiliary supporting devices are engaged with the track rails only when cars are being coupled or uncoupled or while a car is uncoupled. The two extreme positions of adjustment of the legs are shown in Figure 5 but to simplify the illustration the car is not elevated and the track wheel is not shownresting on the track rail when the leg is in the downposition.

The front end of each car is attached to the rear endof the adjacent forward car by a draft coupling the details of which are shown in copending application Serial Number 734,465 filed March 13, 1947, which has matured into Patent No. 2.630230. The female section 29 of the couplingis-attached to the frontend of the cargframing I! andthe'male section 2! of the coupling is attached to the central rearmost end of the car 40 framing. This male couplingsection has a depending extension 2S utilized for purposes appearing hereafter.

'In-a-ddition to the central draft coupling connection between adjacent cars, theforward end of each car body is supported on the preceding car body by two similar weight sustaining devices each consisting of a section 25 on one car rear endand another section 2 5 on the front endof the adjacent-following car. Section 25 includes vertically spaced cylindricalhousings 26, suitably secured 'to'the car'rear end wall 21, for carrying the vertical leg 28 of a member having a horizontally extending coupling arm 29. 'Betweenthe ends of the vertical leg and the housings arearranged rubber sleeve units 3}}! bonded thereto. Section 24 consists of vertically spaced housings 3|, suitably securedto the front end framing 32 of the-car, carrying the ends of memberj33, such ends and housings having rubber sleeves ;3,4 therebetween and-bonded thereto. Member "33 between the housings is formed with an opening in which is fixed a rubber sleeve 36 through which coupling arm 29 of the adjacent car extends. These coupling arms may project into the end portion of the adjacent car where they are locked by removable fasteners, as indicated by numeral 31. These weight supporting devices will permit restricted relative movement of adjacent car bodies in any direction while serving as supporting and coupling means.

The axle structure I l is of the underslung type made up of sections rigidly connected together, copending application Serial No. 733,097 filed March 7, 1947, which has matured into Patent No. 2,641,499, being directed to the details of this structure. Generally, the axle structure comprises a lower transverse member 40, upper stub axles 4| and connecting arm members 42. The lower ends of the arm members are bifurcated and clamped on the ends of the lower member by bolts 43 while the stub axles extend through upper bearing portions of the arm members and are secured thereto by bolts 44. The wheels I2 are journalled on the stub axles and the stub axles extend outside of the wheels sufficiently to provide bearing portions 45.

The car framing is supported on the axle structure by two similar strut devices 46. Each strut device comprises two telescopically associated cylinder members 41 and 48 having flanges 49 against which the ends of coil springs 50 bear, such springs encircling the leg members. The lower ends of members 49 terminate in forks 5! that are journalled on shafts 52 fixed in carriers 53 journalled on the bearing portions 45 of the stub axles and nuts 54 on the ends of the stub shafts retain the fork carriers in position axially on the stub shafts. These strut devices form the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 733,098 filed March '7, 1947, now abandoned. Members 41 terminate at their upper ends in yokes 55 that journal on pins 56 carried by brackets 60 fixed to a portion of rear bulkheads 21 on the framing.

The upper ends of the strut devices are free to pivot in a direction transversely of the car on longitudinally extending axes and the lower ends of the strut devices are free to pivot on axes extending transversely and longitudinally of the car. The strut devices angle outwardly toward the adjacent sides of the car and the springs 50 act between flanges 49 to extend the sections 41 and 48 in an axial direction to thereby suspend the car framing above the axle structure.

The axle structure is also connected with the framing by two similar devices 6| that serve as torque reaction means and radius rods. Such devices each include two rod members 62 and 63 pivoted together by pin 64 to allow relative movement thereof in a lateral direction. Rod 62 is connected to the car framing by joint device 65 having a housing 66 secured to an underframing cross member 61. The joint device 65 is of the ball type and includes spaced spherical members 68, 69 carried by housing 66 and an intermediate mating spherical flange member 10 screwed on the end of rod member 62 and secured in adjusted relation by set screw 1 I. Cover 72 is secured over the open end of the housing and to the adjacent rod member.

Rod member 62 is associated with the axle structure through connecting means opposing torque reaction from the axle structure. The portion 13 of the stub axles adjacent the inner side of wheels 12 is formed square for the reception of arm means in the form of disk plates 14 having square central openings 15 therethrough. Rod members 63 terminate in ring portions 16 that are arranged between plates 14, and between the ring portions of the arms and the adjacent plates is arranged rubber ring devices. Each of such rubber ring devices includes a ring of rubber 1! intermediate and bonded to metal rings 58, 59. Bolts 18 secure ears 58 on rings 58 to ears 18' on the rod plate members I! and bolts 59 secure ears 5'! on the rings 59 to ears 14' on the ring member 16. Bolts 18 are preferably drawn up sufficiently to place the rubber rings 11 in compression. The plates 14 are formed with aligned ears 19 and a stop member 80, in the form of a spacer, is secured therebetween by bolts 8|. The ring portions 16 of the rod members 63 are formed with tongues 82 disposed in spaced relation on each side of the stop member and coact with the stop member to limit the relative rotational movement between the rod members 63 and the plates 14.

It will be noted that the rubber connections between the axle and the rod members will take torque reactions in shear, will resist torque reactions tending to lift the axle when the brakes are applied and twisting forces when the wheels or framing tilt. Further, the rod members and their connection with the frame will lessen longitudinal shock forces transmitted to the framing and will locate the axle with the framing while allowing relative lateral movement thereof.

Means is provided for restricting and damping relative movement between the axle structure and the framing in a direction transversely of the car. Such means comprises generally a spring device between one side of the framing and draft coupling extension 23 and a hydraulic device 8| between the other side of the framing and such draft coupling extension. The details of such means for restricting relative movement between the axle structure and the framing in a direction transversely of the car is covered in copending application Serial Number 733.,096 filed March 7, 1947.

Device 80 comprises a cylinder 82 having a cap 83 on one end from which a rod 84 extends and the end of this rod is pivotally mounted on pin 85 fixed to a carrier 86 secured to the front face of one of the intermediate axle sections 42 by bolts 91. A rod 81 having a flange 95 fixed thereto extends through the other end of cylinder 82 and has an adjustable extension 96 pivotally mounted on bolt 88 carried by the draft coupling extension 23. Opposed springs 89, 90 in the cylinder act oppositely against flange to normally maintain it in a position centering the framing relative to the axle structure. Device 8! includes a hydraulic two-way shock absorber having a housing 9| secured to the front face of one of the intermediate axle structure sections by bolts 98 and a movable vane section 92 carrying an arm 99 on which an extension I00 of rod 93 is pivoted. An extension lfll on the other end of rod 93 is pivotally mounted on pin 94 carried by draft coupling extension 23. The spring device restricts normal relative movement of the framing and axle structure in a direction transversely of the car and the hydraulic device opposes forces beyond those controlled by the spring device tending to move the framing and axle structure relatively in a direction transversely of the car.

The wheels I2 are formed of sections having rubber connections and copending application Serial Number 733,113, filed March 7, 1947, which has matured into Patent No. 2,569,617, is directed to such structure. The wheel rim 103, see Figure 10, has an inwardly extending fiange I04 and hub I05 has disks I95 fixed thereto. The disk and rim fiange are connected by rubber devices each consisting of metal rings I01, I98 between which is arranged a rubber ring 109. The rubber is bonded to the metal rings and the rings I07 are fixed to the hub disks E06 by bolts H0 while rings I08 are fixed to the rim flange I04 by suitable means not shown. These rubber devices will take torque reactions from the axle structure in shear and will also take vertical and longitudinal shock loads.

Brake drum III is fixed to the wheel disk by bolts H2 and within the drum are brake shoes H3 adapted to be actuated by suitable fiuid means (not shown).

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car having framing and a nonrotating axle carrying wheels, a rod comprised of two sections, means pivotally connecting said rod sections to permit relative movementthereof in a direction transversely of the car, a ball joint device connecting one of the rod sections to the framing, and means connecting the other rod section to the axle for limited relative rotational movement, said connecting means including rubber in shear.

2. In a railway car framing, a non-rotating axle carrying wheels, means suspending the framing on the axle, and a pair of similar connection devices each comprising arm means fixed to the axle, a two-section jointed rod, a ball joint device connecting one section of the rod to the framing in advance of the axle, and means resiliently connecting the other section of the rod to the arm means.

3. In a railway car, an axle having wheels rotatably mounted thereon, framing, a pair of similar longitudinally extending devices each comprising two sections pivotally connected to allow relative movement thereof in a direction transversely of the car, a ball joint device connecting the forward rod section to the framing, arm means fixed to the axle, and means connecting said arm means and the rear section of the rod including rubber in compression, said connection allowing limited rotation of said axle relative to said rod. I

4. In a railway car, an axle carrying wheels, framing, means suspending the framing on the axle, a pair of similar longitudinally extending rods each comprising forward and rear jointed sections, a ball joint device connecting the forward rod section to the framing, means fixed to the axle, rubber means connecting the rear rod section to said means fixed to the axle, said rubber means damping torque reaction forces from the axle to the framing, and means limiting tne rotational movement of the rear rod section relative to said means fixed to the axle.

5. In a railway car having framing and an axle, a combined radius rod and torque reaction device comprising arm means fixed to the axle, a rod extending longitudinally of the car and including two sections pivoted together at their adjacent ends to permit relative movement thereof in a direction transversely of the car, a universal joint means connecting one of the rod sections with the framing, and means connecting the other rod section with the arm means to permit limited relative rotation thereof, said means connecting the rod section with the arm means including resilient torque resisting means.

6. In a railway car having framing and an axle spaced longitudinally from the framing, a radius and torque reaction device comprising arm means fixed to the axle and extending toward the framing, a sectional rod between the arm means and the framing formed of two members pivotally connected at the adjacent ends to permit relative movement of said members in a direction transversely of the car, a universal joint connecting one of said rod members to the framing, and means connecting the other rod member with said arm means in relation to permit restrained relative movement thereof in response to torque created forces.

7. In a railway car having framing and an axle spaced longitudinally from the framing, a radius and torque reaction device comprising a pair of spaced arms fixed on the axle and extending longitudinally toward the framing, a rod comprised of sections pivoted together to permit relative movement of the sections in a direction transversely of the car, a universal joint connecting one end of said rod to the framing, the other end of said rod extending between said arms, and a connection between the arms and the end of the rod extending therebetween including resilient means.

8. In a railway car having framing and an anxle spaced longitudinally from the framing, a radius and torque device comprising a pair of spaced arms fixed to the axle and extending longitudinally toward the framing, a rod comprising sections pivoted together to permit relative movement of the sections in a direction transversely of the car, a universal joint connecting one end of the rod to the framing, the other end of the rod extending between the arms, rubber devices between the arms and the adjacent end of the rod, and means securing the arms with the adjacent end of the rod and with the rubber devices in compression.

9. In a railway car, a rigid non-rotating axle carrying wheels, framing, means suspending the framing on the axle, a pair of similar jointed rod devices connected at their forward ends to the framing by ball joint devices, arms fixed on the axle, resilient torque reaction connections between the rod devices and the arms allowing limited relative rotation thereof, and means restricting relative movement of the axle and framing in a direction transversely of the car.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,710,360 Keil Apr. 23, 1929 2,026,076 Spicer Dec. 81, 1935 2,045,510 Armington June 23, 1936 2,160,445 Spicer May 30, 1939 2,204,953 Wittmer June 18, 1940 2,251,258 Alden et a1 Aug. 5, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 589,259 France Feb. 18, 1925 825,955 France Dec. 27, 1937 

